10 Countries with the Worst Healthcare Systems Worldwide

The under-developed and developing countries face a number of challenges in the healthcare sector, which lead to high fatality rates in children due to diseases that can be prevented. Chronic diseases and epidemics also prove more dangerous and fatal in the developing part of the world.

Listed below are 10 countries with the worst healthcare systems in the world according to WHO (World Health Organisation).

10. Zambia: 0.269

Zambia is the better one on the list with a population of about 14 million people and a life expectancy of 55 years at birth. Diphtheria is one of the major causes of death in children under 5 as there is limited access to The birth and death rate is quite high in Zambia, due to which 50% of its population is under 14 years old.

9. Lesotho: 0.266

Lesotho – an enclave of South Africa has population below 2 million with almost 40% ranging below the poverty line. This level of poverty is the obvious cause of a weak healthcare system. The average life expectancy in this poor country is 49 years old. The conditions are bleak and dreadful as a fraction of the people between the ages of 15-49 also suffers from HIV.

8. Mozambique: 0.260

With the population of 23.9 million people, Mozambique’s size is similar to Turkey. The healthcare system in the country is one of the worst because almost 60% of its citizens live below the poverty line. The highest life expectancy can be averaged at about 50 years and the medium age is around 17 years old.

7. Malawi: 0.251

Malawi is also known as “The Warm Heat of Africa” due to its well-known hospitality and captivating wildlife. This small country may boast of a vibrant culture but the life expectancy is really low at approximately less than 55 years with the median age of 17 years old. It is a HIV/Aids ridden country and its a threat to socioeconomic sustainability and healthcare. More than 65,000 people die in Malawi every year due to viruses and epidemics.

6. Liberia: 0.200

The coastal country Liberia is the only US colonized country in the region of Africa. The biggest medical center, named after John. F. Kennedy was built with the help of USAID grant. It has a population of 4 million people; the average life-expectancy is 57 years.

Just a fraction of the population – 4.7% reaches above 60 and the rest is below 15 years of age. Malaria is one of the major causes of deteriorating health conditions. Most of the children under 5 do not even receive any anti-malarial treatment.

5. Nigeria: 0.176

Nigeria aka the “Giant of Africa” consisting of 36 states has the highest population with more than 174 Million residents. The life expectancy is limited to 53.3 years. Due to the economic deterioration, most of the medical personnel leave the country for better jobs. Infant mortality is also low as the approximately 20 percent of children dying before reaching the age of 5.

4. Democratic Republic of Congo: 0.171

This mid-western country has suffered due to extreme war conditions. Keeping in mind the high population of 75 million, it has an appalling rate of life expectancy at just an average of 48.7 years. The 43% of the 75 million are around the median age of 17 and most of them being under 15 years old. The most shocking part is that for every 1000 people, there are only 0.1 physicians which show the horrifying condition of healthcare. Being one of the poorest countries, DRC is ridden with spreadable diseases like malaria, rabies and other deadly viruses.

3. Central African Republic: 0.156

The Central African Republic has weaker healthcare systems due its socio-economic and civil instability. The Rebel forces have gained power. There is political unrest, lawlessness and poor infrastructure including poverty. There is no proper sanitation or clean water due to which diarrhea is one of the major causes of death for children under 5 years old. The life expectancy does not even reach 50 years old,

2. Myanmar: 0.138

The only Asian country on the list is the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, previously known as Burma. The country has poor healthcare systems mainly due to the fact that government releases the lowest GDP to it is healthcare sector. A quarter of its population is under 15 years – and leads to not more than 50 years. However, the recent change in the military government and according to WHO, there may be some rise in these conditions.

1. Sierra Leone: 0.00

The civil war (1991-2002), left the Republic of Sierra Leone in devastation. Although, it is working towards building itself into a democracy, the healthcare conditions are very poor. Pregnant women have free healthcare but there is a shortage of doctors and midwives and other medical facilities. Life expectancy does not exceed 54 years and about 42% of the population is under 15 years old. Malaria is one of the major health concerns of this country.